Bond has been denied for a Hartsville man facing three counts of felony driving under the influence resulting in death and driving under suspension, a misdemeanor.
Dennis Carl Smith, 36, of Hartsville initially was charged with two counts of felony driving under the influence resulting in death, a count of felony DUI resulting in great bodily injury and driving under suspension, a misdemeanor, S.C. Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Sonny Collins.
But the count of felony DUI resulting in great bodily injury was upgraded after 60-year-old Ruby Brown, grandmother of Antonio McFadden and Artivas Gilbert Brown, who also died in the crash, died Friday in a Charlotte hospital from injuries suffered in the collision, Darlington County Coroner Todd Hardee said in a press release.
Bond was denied for Smith’s release after a hearing Monday afternoon in Darlington.
The crash occurred at about 12:41 a.m. at of South Fifth Street and the U.S. 15 Bypass about two miles south of Hartsville, highway patrol Cpl. Paul Brouthers said. A Mazda Four-door driven by Ruby Brown was stopped at a traffic light on the U.S. 15 Bypass when a Chevy Blazer traveling south on the bypass slammed into the rear of the car.
Antonio McFadden, 19, died at the scene. His cousin, Artivas Brown, 17, died July 12 at Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, Hardee said.
One other passenger in the Mazda escaped serious injury.
Smith initially refused transport to a hospital, but later asked to be taken to an area medical center for treatment of chest pain, Brouthers said.
Magistrate Guy Bell set a $150,915 surety bond for Smith’s release soon after his arrest, but Smith remains in custody at the Darlington County Detention Center.
“He can't get out of jail,” 4th Circuit Solicitor Will Rogers said Monday of Smith.
Smith was convicted of DUI in relation to a traffic stop in June 1998 in Chesterfield County, according to a State Law Enforcement Division background check. He paid a $437 fine. In addition, in 2006, Smith was convicted of possession of marijuana in Hartsville and fined $565.
If the case proceeds to a jury trial, Rogers said, it will be up to a judge whether a jury is allowed to learn about any priors involving Smith. Often, prior convictions are deemed too prejudicial and don’t become factors unless there’s a sentencing stage.
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